There have been great Unlimited Hydroplane races on Mission Bay before.

But J. Michael Kelly and Andrew Tate put on a side-by-side battle for five laps Sunday afternoon that harkened back to the classic battles of Bill Muncey and Dean Chenoweth and Chip Hanauer and Jim Kropfeld.

“That was an amazing race,” said Kelly, who emerged as the San Diego winner for the fourth time. “We were side-by-side throughout the last four laps. Andrew would pull ahead, then I’d get the edge. That was by far the closest finish I’ve ever been involved in.

“I can’t tell you what the margin was. I know Tate was right there, but I don’t know exactly where he was when we crossed the finish line.”

The margin was listed as 1.825 seconds. Kelly averaged 157.818 mph for the five-lap finale to 156.814 mph for Tate.

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